Dog Saves Owner From Pirates! Plus 6 More Tales of Canine Heroics

I don’t know about you, but every single time a story about an animal hero comes on the news I’m in TEARS almost instantly. There’s something so genuine about a pet’s dedication to their owners, love for other animals, and the general well-being of those around them. It’s an incredible intuition that animals seem to possess — acting in ways which are completely honorable and without hope for gain. They act out of instinct, protection and love. Something us humans could probably learn from, right? Either way, there’s a reason dogs are known as “man’s best friend”.

Click through to read seven truly breathtaking tales of doggy bravery. Get the tissues ready!

Dog saves owner from pirates 1 of 7

When Peter Lee found himself in the middle of a hijacking on his 41' yacht, his amazing dog Kankuntu furiously attacked one of the armed gunman, defending his owner with incredible force, until one of the assailants shot and stabbed the animal between his shoulder blades. By some miracle, Kankuntu did not succumb to his injuries and instead was nursed back to health! Wow!
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Pit bull pulls paralyzed man to safety 2 of 7

When a fire broke out in Keith Chandler's home, his loyal Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sandy, knew exactly what she needed to save her owner. Keith, paralyzed from the chest down after a car accident, yelled for his children to leave the home after smelling fire, then attempted to crawl out on his own. Sandy rushed to assist him, dragging the man to safety. "The dog undoubtedly helped this man get out of the house," said a rep from the fire department. "Without the dog's help we would probably be dealing with a fatality here."
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Chihuahua keeps tot safe from snake 3 of 7

Zoey the Chihuahua made headlines in 2007 after she rescued a toddler from a too-close-for-comfort rattlesnake! The adorable dog recovered from the bite she received, and the snake was disposed of by Zoey's owner.
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Strays save the day 4 of 7

In 2008, three stray dogs located a baby girl who had been abandoned in a mound of mud, in a remote Indian village. The newborn was saved after residents spotted the dogs barking near the mud covered sweetheart. "The dogs removed the soil around and began to bark and the baby started crying which drew attention of the local villagers," said one government official. The baby, sadly believed to have been left for dead by her mother, was adopted by a childless couple.
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Angel saves boy from cougar attack 5 of 7

Austin Forman, age 11, is forever grateful to his Golden Retriever — appropriately named Angel — who rescued him from a cougar attack one scary afternoon. The boy was outside, bringing in wood for the family's fireplace, when he spotted the animal just feet away and ready to pounce. At the last moment, Angel jumped between the two, nearly sacrificing herself for the sake of the boy. After quite a struggle, a police officer was able to fire a shot off, killing the cougar. The dog was pried from the grasp of the cougar's strong jaws. She was treated for substantial injuries and was able to eventually return home. "She was my best friend, but now she's even greater to me. She's more than a best friend now," says Austin. His father adds, "We're really lucky that he was saved by an angel. That's exactly what it was. There's no other word for it."
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Persistence pays off 6 of 7

On a particularly frigid Minnesota afternoon, Brett Grinde's 15-year-old dog, Effie, started to frantically pull at her leash — something very out of character for the German Shorthaired Pointer. "At the 'T' we always go left," explained Grinde to a local paper. "She started pulling to the right. Effie has never, ever done that, and hasn't pulled in a long time." Her owner decided to let her off-leash. As soon as she was free to run, she bolted about 40 yards away, where she found a 94-year-old man, bleeding and frozen to the ground. "I think the one above heard the man suffering and pointed Effie in the right direction," said Grinde. "It's all in God's hands one way or another." Sadly, the man did pass several days later. Thankfully, Effie's efforts ended his misery in the cold that night.
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9/11 hero dog leads owner away from danger 7 of 7

Guide dog Roselle, who led her blind owner down 78 flights of stairs in Tower One of the World Trade Center — just moments before it collapsed on September 11, 2001 — was posthumously named America Hero Dog by the American Humane Association at a ceremony in 2002. "She saved my life," explained Michael Hingson, Roselle's human. "While everyone ran in panic, Roselle remained totally focused on her job. While debris fell around us, and even hit us, Roselle stayed calm."
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And just before you leave… take a moment to watch this video from Chile, featuring one dog who takes his life in his own paws in order to rescue a fallen comrade.

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